Geoffrey Chaucer
14th century English poet and author
Lewis Carroll, the famous English author, poet, and mathematician, is best known for his beloved classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. As a skilled wordsmith and logician, he created beloved works of literary nonsense, including the iconic poems Jabberwocky and The Hunting of the Snark. Carroll’s life and legacy continue to fascinate readers and scholars around the world.
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About the Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgsonand its sequel Through the Looking-Glassand The Hunting of the Snarkare classified in the genre of literary nonsense. Some of Alice’s nonsensical wonderland logic reflects his published work on mathematical logic.
Carroll came from a family of high-church Anglicans, and pursued his clerical training at Oxford Christ Church, Oxford, where he lived for most of his life as a scholar, teacher and Anglican deacon. Alice Liddell – a daughter of Henry Liddell, the Dean of Christ Church – is widely identified as the original inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, though Carroll always denied this.
An avid puzzler, Carroll created the word ladder puzzle (which he then called “Doublets”), which he published in his weekly column for Vanity Fair magazine between 1879 and 1881. In 1982 a memorial stone to Carroll was unveiled at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey. There are societies in many parts of the world dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of his works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was an English author, poet, mathematician, photographer, and Anglican priest best known for his children’s classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.
Lewis Carroll’s most notable works were the novels Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1871), as well as the poems Jabberwocky (1871) and The Hunting of the Snark (1876), which are considered classics of literary nonsense.
Alice Liddell, the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church at Oxford, is widely identified as the original inspiration for the character of Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland stories, though Carroll himself always denied this.
In addition to his literary pursuits, Lewis Carroll was also a mathematician, photographer, and Anglican deacon. He created the word ladder puzzle, which he published in Vanity Fair magazine, and was known for his facility with word play, logic, and fantasy.
Lewis Carroll’s legacy continues to be celebrated, with societies dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of his works in many parts of the world. In 1982, a memorial stone to Carroll was unveiled at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey, honoring his enduring impact as a beloved author and cultural icon.
31 Quotes by Lewis Carroll
- 1.
One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 2.
His answer trickled through my head like water through a sieve.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 3.
‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.’
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 4.
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 5.
While the laughter of joy is in full harmony with our deeper life, the laughter of amusement should be kept apart from it. The danger is too great of thus learning to look at solemn things in a spirit of mockery, and to seek in them opportunities for exercising wit.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 6.
Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 7.
There comes a pause, for human strength will not endure to dance without cessation; and everyone must reach the point at length of absolute prostration.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 8.
Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 9.
Always speak the truth, think before you speak, and write it down afterwards.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 10.
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 11.
Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 12.
I can’t go back to yesterday – because I was a different person then.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 13.
‘But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ said Alice. ‘Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the cat. ‘We’re all mad here.’
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 14.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 15.
Which form of proverb do you prefer Better late than never, or Better never than late?
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 16.
Twinkle, twinkle little bat How I wonder what you’re at! Up above the world you fly, Like a tea-tray in the sky.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 17.
No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 18.
I have proved by actual trial that a letter, that takes an hour to write, takes only about 3 minutes to read!
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 19.
Oh, ’tis love, ’tis love that makes the world go round.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 20.
Sentence first, verdict afterwards.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 21.
Contrariwise, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t. That’s logic.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 22.
The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 23.
There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents, and only one for birthday presents, you know.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 24.
Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 25.
That’s the reason they’re called lessons, because they lesson from day to day.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 26.
It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 27.
But I was thinking of a way To multiply by ten, And always, in the answer, get The question back again.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 28.
‘What is the use of a book’, thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?’
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 29.
‘The time has come,’ the walrus said, ‘to talk of many things: of shoes and ships – and sealing wax – of cabbages and kings.’
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 30.
She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it).
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)
- 31.
We called him Tortoise because he taught us.
Lewis CarrollBritish author and scholar (1832-1898)